Combined level and transit



Jan. 17,- 1939. M,v .1..cRosBY COMBINED LEVEL AND TRANSIT Filed Feb, 26, 1958 Patented Jan. 17, 1.939

l UNITEDV STATES -PA'I'ENT 'OFAFICI'4 y v l 2,144,482 Y COMBINED LEVEL AND TRANSIT Matthew J. Crosby, Matawan, N. J. Applicatign Febnlary 26, 193s, serialrNo. 192,865

l14 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of geometri- .'cal instruments and pertains particularlyto improvements in combined levels'and transits.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel combined level and transit .in which novel means is provided` for housing the .transit in the 4body of the level and for shifting thetransit from within the'level tothe outside thereof and into a position in which it is set up ready for use. j

v.Another object ofthe invention isv to provide lan improved combined level and transit in which the transit is mounted upon a collapsible car,- riagestructure which facilitates raising and lowering the transit with respectto a housing rcham- :ber in the level whereby the transit, when desired for use, may be drawn out of the'housing chamber in a manner ,to automatically position it above the level and paralleltherewith so Vthat it may immediately be putV into use,t Still anotherrobject of theinvention is to provide anovel combined level and transitstructure in which the transit is .mounted inv thenovel manner stated and in .which a novel means is employed for adjusting the transit whennecessary to bringit into a position ,of parallelism with 'the top of the level body. t t l Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting ,means for a transit which is adapted tobe used in association with a straight edge or level whereby the transit may be firmly supported when not inuse andv whereby an easy adjustment may be made of the transit to bring itslongitudinal center into a Vparallel rela- 35` tion with the adjacent edge of the straight edge structure upon which it is mounted. l

The invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthe following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying o drawing forming part oithis specication, with the understanding' however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so Along as such changes or modifica-v tions mark no material departure from the salient featuresof the invention appended claims.

In the drawing:-'- Y Figure 1 is a viewpartly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section through a level o-r straight edgeof a type commonly employed by builders, with a portion of the same in longitudinal: section to show theimanner in which the transit structure is incorporated therewith.

55l .'FiguregZ is a viewin top plan of the'level and` as expressed. in the transit structure constructed in accordance with the' present invention.

Figure 3 isa sectional view taken on 3-3 ofFigure 1.

i Figure 4/ is an enlargedk sectional view taken .5. substantially upon the line 4 4 of vFigure 2, when the transit structure has been raised, toiillustrate the means for securing the transit in raised posi-i ton;,

'Figure 5 isa View illustrating'the application 10 of "a protractor scale and pointer to the 'transit support for `use in association with the' transit when llaying off building foundation lines, etc.

Figure 6 isa sectional view taken substantially upon the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing; 'the numeral l generally designates a level stock in"which are' mountedadja'cent the Aends; the usual bubble glasses 2 4an`d`3 4by the. use of which structures may be located Yin horizontal and 20 vertical positions. These 'bubble glasses "are known respectively as leveling and plumbing glasses. l' 't y In the construction of the combined Ilevel and transit'in accordance with the present iri'ver'itivo-n,` 25 the level 'stock I has frmedlthere'in adjacent one end,l which may be referred to as the'rear end,

andbetw'een the glasses Zand 3, the chamber 4 which opens through one side edge of the stock I, which willbe hereinafter referred toas the top 30 of the" level stock. In Figure l, the stock has been shown as broken transversely between the glasses andv at the ends of the chamber 4 but it is to' be understood that the chamber is adjacent the rear the line or leveling glass v2, as previously stated. This 35- chamber extends lengthwise of the stock, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and is relatively narrow and at the ends there are formed the shoulders 5 and 6. 'I'hese shoulders are shown as merging with side shoulders 'l but it will be apparent that from Vthe 40r following description that the side shoulders may be eliminated if desired. l Y t' y At each end of the chamber fl there is formedV iny the top of the level stockv therecess 8 which has its sides undercut to form dovetail guides' 45v out becoming disengaged therefrom. Each slide 50 *l has a tongue at the end adjacent the chamber for engagement with a cover body for the chamber which will be hereinafter particularly referred to.l

Securedin the bottom of the chamber 4 'is aV 65"? 2 r plate II. Adjacent one end of this plate, there is pivotally secured an arm I2 which, at its lower end, is relatively wide, as shown in Figure 3, while the upper end is narrower and has hinge connection at I3 with a terminal leaf I4. The lower end of the arm I2 is pivotally attached to the plate II by the hinge I5.

Adjacent the other end of the base plate II and in approximately the central portion of the chamber 4 is an arm I6 which is of the same formY as the arm I2 and has its lower edge pivotally Y connected to the plate II by the 'hinge I'I, while its narrow upper end is connected by the hinge j I8 with one end of a threaded adjusting screw I9 which carries two spaced adjusting nuts 20. i

The numeral 2| designates the telescope supporting plate which is of sucient length to con` nect the parts I4 and I9 and to move intothe chamber 4. The part I4 referred to previously as the hinge leaf is permanently attached tothe underside of the plate 2| adjacent one endof the latter, while the screw I9 passes freely through an aperture inthe plate 2| adjacent theother end thereof, the adjusting nuts 20 having the plate 2| located therebetween so that this end of the Vplate may be raised'and lowered'slightly to make certain adjustments of the structure which it carries.

At the center of the telescope carrying plate 2| there is pivotally mounted a post 22. This post passes Vthrough a suitable aperture in the plate 2| and has a head 23 upon its underside, while above'theplate 2| it has'secured about it the collar or retaining ring Y24 which is secured to the post in any suitable manner and which engages the top of theiplate 2| to prevent longitudinal movement of the platebut toV permit rotation of the post relative to the plate.

The post 22 is slotted to form the upwardly projecting spaced ears 25 and between these ears is positioned a single hinge earV 26V which is carried by the Vbody'p'ortion of a telescope 21. A pivot pinV 28 passing through the ears 25-26 pivotally joins them together.

YThe post 22 is provided at Vone side with a socket 29 Vto receive a pointer 3|), which is made ing-downwardlyupon the platform 2| Yso as torY swing the supporting arms I2 and I6 downwardly, as shown in Figure 1, to bring the top ofthe telescope below the top of therchamber.

In order to close the top of the chamber when the telescope is depressed thereinto, as shown,V

the top of the telescope has secured thereto the cover` plate 32. This plate is adapted to set intoV the top ofthe chamber to restupon the end and side shoulders 5, 6 and andreach end of the cover plate'has a'lip 33 which is engaged'by a latchslide 9 so as to facilitate maintaining the cover plate in chamber closing position.

. Mounted upon the'base plate IIY adjacent the' central'part of the chamber v4, is va spring 34 which is engaged by the head 23 of the post 22` when the telescope is depressed into the chamber and is Y maintained under compression so that VWhen the latches 9 are shifted to release the ends g of the cover plate 32, this spring will react to start the telescope and supporting plate therefor upwardly, thus making it easy for the user of the instrument to take a hold upon these parts and lift them into working positions.

In order that the structure may be properly supported against movement when it has been removed from the chamber 4 for use, the hinge leaf I4 is provided withV a finger 35 which is located in such a position thatwhen the arms VI2 and I6 areraised so that the parts I4 and I9 are positioned in vertical alinement therewith, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 1, this nger 35 will move into position over the surface ofthe shoulderV 5 to receive in the notch formed "at: .itsfundersijde at 36, the tooth 31 which is formed upon and stands upwardly from the surf face of the'shoulder 5. There is thus formed a Jatching means for holding the telescope in its this tooth 31 when the cover plate is down. Such a recess is vshown in Figure 1 and indicated by the numeral38.. y Y i Y Y In the under or bottom edge of the level stock I, there is provided the upwardly directed pin hole 39 which isrlocated to be upon the axial center of the'posti22 when the latter with the telescope is shifted"`ut of the chamber 4to the working position in which it is shown in dotted linesin `Figure-1, This hole is formed to facili- Vtate' mounting thestockv upona supporting pin which may be driven in any body upon which the level and Vtransit is'to be mounted so that the level vwill be pivotally retained'inworking position upon such'a body to be shifted to any position desired.' v Y j ,Adjacent one end of the level stock, there is 1 pivotally attached upon the top edge a gauge plate 40.A Thisis preferably mounted so that when-itis Vnot in use itmay be housed in a recess 4I Vand thus protected from damage. Y

In the use of the instrument, Ythe level stock setup and is adjusted until the .glass 2 shows'that it has been brought to a perfectly level condition. be raised as well as the telescope 2l and the telescope is brought into parallel relation with the top edge of ythe level: stock, if necessary, by manipulatingthe nuts 20 so as to raise or lower the front end ofthe telescope until the horizonf tal one of the cross hairs thereof is located upon and parallel ywith Vthe top edge of the plate 40. After this adjustment has been made, it will not be' necessary to again adjust the telescope by means vof these nuts;

For the use of the telescope in laying out foundations, after the telescope has been tested and adjusted if necessary, it is rotatedgto extend transversely of the level stock and to remove it from contact with theV top edges of the supports `3| soi-,hat it may be oscillated freely upon the pivot pin 28. In ordereto determine the angles which may be, requiredV there is provided the semi-,circular plate 42 which has a' scale laid oif. adjacent its arcuate edge and extendingv through 180 of a circle. This Vplate is provided Ywith the semi-circularfrecess 43 at the center of its straight edge, asshown in Figure 5, to receive the collar 24 so that Ythe plate may rest upon the telescope supporting plate 2|, as illustrated, and adjacent this central recess 43 there are secured to the plate 42, two pins 44 which are adapted to engage in apertures 45 in the plate 2|,

The gauge-plate V4I) may then into this position.

as illustrated in Figure 5. When the protractor plate 42 is secured in position, v,it will yextend transversely of ther telescope ycarrying plate 2l and when. the pointer is secured to the post 22 by having one end inserted into theY aperture 297 as shownv in Figure 5, it will lie over and point toward the zero mark of the protractor scale.

As an illustration of the use of the present instrument, the following examples are given. To l-ay out a foundation: First, a side or the front line for the foundation is run or laid ofi in the proper place and stakes are driven at the ends of the line to locate th-eppositions of two corners of the foundation. A small nail is then driven into the top of one Ast-ake and this nail is used as a pivot f or the level stock by arranging the stock so that the nail will extend into the pivot aperture 39. Another-stake may then be driven under the lin-e so as to support the front end` of the level stock and this supporting stake should be of suicient width across its top to permitthe front end of the stock to be swung through six or eight inches of movement. The telescope is then raised in the manner described and the degree arc or protractor plate is placed in position and also the pointer. As previously stated, when the pointer is in place it should be `,directed towardV the zero mark of the plate but if it doesnot point toward this marking, the front of the level is moved until the pointer is brought The telescope is then used y to sight the opposite orfar corner of the line over which the level stock is placed and the necessary movement of the stock is made until the said far corner is brought into the center of the telee scope, care being used to see that the pointer remains in its former position with respect to the zero mark of the sc-ale. After these settings of the stock and telescope are obtained, the telescope is then swung around until VVthe pointer coincides with the mark .and this will ,then give the second` line perpendicularto the lineover which the stock ijsplaced and,by the use of the telescope in the usual manner, the farV corner of the foundation c an then belaid off along this second line. After these two lines Vare established, the laying off of the l,remainder of the foundation-may be easily accomplished'.

In using the instrument forY `the purpose of,l leveling a foundation the following procedure is followed. Three stakes are driven' into the ground at one corner of the previous laid oif foundation outline and these stakes are connected by two `batter boards so that each will extend parallel with a side of the foundation line andv while they may be at any height desired, the ltop edges thereof shall be level and'they shall be at right angles to one another. After the stock of the instrument has beenV set-:up upon one of the boards to extend lengthwise thereon, stakesv are set up at each of the other corners ofthe foundation by sighting through the telescop-e sol as Vto get the stakes in the right positions with regard to the other corners of the foundation and each of these stakes has a mark made therelon at the level of the telescope. l It will be-understood that these marks made upon the stakes will be as much too high as the center of the telescope is removed from the bottom edgevof ther level stock which rests upon theb-atter boards and, therefore, to determine the proper point on each stake which will be at the same level as the batter board `upon which the level stock and transit is mounted, it is necessary to determine exactly the distance between the bottom edge of the level stock'and the.- center of the telescope and then measure down on each stake from the mark made thereon, Ya distance equal to theV distance from the center of the telescope to the bottom of the level. It will beY readily apparent that the distance from the bottom of the level'to the center of the telescope can be readily found by raising. the sighting gauge 40 and then measure from the bottom edge of the telescope to the top edge of this gauge. After the distance between these edges of the instrument is determined, a notation can be made so as to save having to repeat this operation each time a foundation is leveled. l .i

l. An instrument of the character described, comprising a level stock, leveling means carried by the stock, said stock having a chamber therein which opens through the top edge of the stock body, a pair of arms pivotally secured at one end in the chamber to be swung to uprightrposition therein, and a transit supported by said arms constantly in parallel relation with the said top edge of the body and movable from within the chamber to a position above the body and in horizont-al relation therewith when the arms are swung to said upright position.

2. An instrument of the character described,` comprising an elongated .body having a straight top edge, said body having a chamber therein opening through saidtop edge, means carried by the body for leveling of same, a telescope adapted to be positioned in the chamber, and pivotally mounted telescope supporting'means within the chamber which is so constructed and arranged that on being oscillated in one direction will'raise the telescope from and maintain it in the horizontal position whichit occupied in the chamber to a pl-ane above and yparallel with the 'said top edge of said body.

3. An instrument of the character described, comprising an elongated body having a straight top edge, said body having a chamber therein opening through said top edge, means carried by the body for levelling of same, a telescopey adapted to be positioned in the chamber, pivotal supporting means within the chamber for the telescope which is so constructed and arranged that on being moved to one position ythe telescope will be raised to a plane above and parallel with the said top edge of said body, and means carried by said body adjacent one end for use' in adjusting the telescope relative to said top edge to bring the telescope into parallel relation with said edge. i

fi. An instrument of the character described, comprising an elongated straight body having a straight top edge, said body having a chamber therein opening through said topv edge, means carried by the body for leveling of the same, a telescope of a size to t in said chamber, a supporting plate for said telescope, a pair of hinged arms each pivotally' secured in the lower part of said chamber whereby it may swing upwardly to a vertical position in the chamber, each of said hinged arms having its upper part attached to said plate, and the' attaching means between the upper part of one of said hinged arms and the plate being vadjustable for 'the raising and lowering of the adjacent end of theY telescope.

5. An instrument of the character described,.-

comprising an elongated body having a straight top edge, acharnber within the body opening through said edge, a pair of arm members each pivotally secured at one endwithin the lower.

vsuiiicient length to raise the telescope to a position above-the said edge of the body when the arms are raised in the chamber.

V6. An instrument of the Vcharacter described, comprising an elongated body having a straight top edge, a chamber within the Vbody opening through said edge, a pair of arm members each pivotally secured at one end within the lower Y part of the chamber whereby it may be raised Y means carried by the body upon said edge and to a vertical position therein, an extension for and `pivotally connected with the free end of each arm, a plate joined to and connecting said extensions, one of said extensions being in the form of a screw adjustably connected to the plate, a telescope of a size to be positioned in the chamber, means pivotally coupling the telescope to thecentral part of said plate, said arms Vand the extensions thereof being together of suiiicient length to raise the telescope to a position above the said edge of the body when the arms are `raised in the chamber, and a, gauge adjacent one end for use in'conjunction with said Vadjusting screw to ,arrange said telescope in a position parallel with said straight edge after the telescope is raised from the chamber.

17. An instrument of the character described, comprising an. elongated body having a straight top edge, means carried by the body for leveling the same on a supporting structure, said body having a chamber therein opening through said top edge, a pair of arms disposed in spaced relation within the chamber and pivotally secured to the bottom of the same, a telescope of a size to be positioned lengthwise inY the'chamber, a supporting plate for the telescope, meansfpivotally coupling the telescope with said plate whereby the telescope may have oscillatory move- Vment in either a horizontal or a vertical plane, a rigid hinge leaf pivotally secured to and forming an extension of the'free end of onearm and rigidly secured to said plate adjacent one end of the latter, a screw pivotally attached to the free end of the other arm and extending through an aperture in and adjacent the other end of said plate, adjusting nuts carried by the screw Vand* having the plate secured therebetween, and means for securing said arms in Vertical position within the chamber when the telescope has been removed from the chamber by the upward swinging of the arms.

8. An instrument of the character described,

comprising an elongated body having a straightl top edge, means carried by the body for leveling the same on a supporting structure, said body having a chamber therein opening through said top edge, a pair of arms disposed in spaced relation within the chamber and pivotallyV secured to the bottom ofthe same, a telescope of a size to be positioned lengthwise in the chamber,Y a Supporting plate for the telescope, means pivotally coupling the telescope with said plate whereby the telescope may have oscillatory movement in either a horizontal or a vertical plane, a rigid hinge leaf pivotally secured to and forming an extension of the free endfof Vone arm and rigidly secured to said plate adjacent one end of the latter, a screw pivotally attached to the free end of the other arm and extending through an aperture in and adjacent the other end of said plate, adjusting 'nuts carried by the screw-and having thefplate secured therebetween, means for securing said arms `invertical position within the chamber when the telescope has been removed fromV the chamber-by the upward swinging of the. arms, and a cover plate for the chamber carried upon the top of the telescope.

9. An instrument of the character described, comprising anV elongated body'having a straight top edge, means carried by the body for leveling the same Von a supporting structure, Vsaid body having va chamber therein opening through said top edge, a pair ofarms disposed in spaced relation within the chamber and pivotally secured to the bottom of the same, Ya telescope of a size to be positioned lengthwise in the chamber, a supporting plate for the telescope, Vmeans pivotally coupling the telescope withsaid plate whereby the telescope may have oscillatory movement in either a horizontal or a verticalfp'lanej, a rigid hinge leaf pivotally secured to and forming an'extension of the free end of one arm and rigidly secured to -saidplate adjacent one end ofthe latter, a screw pivotally attached to the free end of the otherarm Yand extending through an aperture Vin and adjacent the other end of said plate, adjusting'nuts carried 'by the screw and having the plate secured therebetween, means Vforsecuririg said armsin vertical'positionwith- Vin the chamber when thetelescope hasV been removedfrom the chamberby the upward swinging Vof the arms,` vand supporting `means carried by top edgefa pair of arms disposed in spaced rela-` tion within' the chamber and pivotally securedtoV the bottomof the same, a telescope of a size to be positioned lengthwise in the chamber, a supporting plate for the telescope, means pivotally Ycoupling the-telescope with said plate'whe'rebythe ltelescope may haveY oscillatoryV movement in either a horizontaler a vertical plane,l a rigid hinge leaf pivotally secured to and forming an extension of the free end of one arm and rigidly secured to said plate adjacent one Vend of the latter, a screw pivotally attached to the free end of the other arm and extending through an aperturel in and adjacent theV other end of said plate, adjusting nuts carried bythe screw and having the plate secured therebetween, means for securing said arms in Vertical position within the chamber when Ythe telescope has been removed from the chamber by the upward swinging of the arms, a protractor plate, means for securing the plate beneath the telescope with the radial center thereof upon the center of horizontal oscillation for thetelescope, anda pointer carried by said pivotal means for coaction with said protractor plate. 11. An instrument comprising a level stock having a chamber therein and opening through one edge thereof, a telescope, a supporting plate for the telescope, means for raising said telescope on the plate from a position in the chamber to a position above the stock while maintaining said telescope and plate substantially parallel with one another and parallel as a unit with the said one edge of the stock above which the telescope is raised.

12. An instrument comprising a level stock having a chamber therein and opening through one edge thereof, a telescope, a supporting plate for the telescope, means for raising said telescope on the plate from a position in the chamber to a position above the stock While maintaining said telescope and plate substantially parallel With one another and parallel as a unit With the said one edge of the stock above which the telescope is raised, and means for adjusting one end of the plate relative to the stock for establishing said parallelism between the plate and level as one unit and the stock as another unit.

13. An instrument comprising a level stock having a chamber therein and opening through one edge thereof, a telescope, a supporting plate for the telescope, a pivotal connection between the plate and telescope permitting the telescope to be swung in a plane parallel with the adjacent surface of the plate and in a plane perpendicular to said surface, means for raising the telescope and the plate as a unit from Within the chamber to a position above the stock, and means for maintaining the telescope against movement in said last mentioned plane When the telescope and plate are disposed in parallel relation. Y

14. An instrument comprising a level stock having a chamber therein and opening through one edge thereof, a telescope, a supporting plate for the telescope, a pivotal connection between the plate and telescope permitting the telescope to be swung in a plane parallel with the adjacent surface of the plate and in a plane perpendicular to said surface, means for raising the telescope and the plate as a unit from Within the chamber to a position above the stock, a protractor scale disposed beneath the telescope concentric with the center of rotation of the telescope in said first plane, and pointer means movable with the telescope over said scale upon rotation of the same on said center.

MATTHEW J. CROSBY. 

